Romney supports women at Augusta National

Mitt Romney told reporters today that he believes women should be admitted to Augusta National Golf Club, home of The Masters tournament.

"Of course. I am not a member of Augusta. I don't know if I would qualify. My golf game is not that good," Romney said, according to the Associated Press. "If I could run Augusta, which isn't likely to happen, of course I'd have women."

Romney made his comments to reporters on the rope line after a campaign event this afternoon in Pennsylvania. Several reporters traveling with the GOP front-runner immediately began tweeting his quotes.

Newt Gingrich made his views known on the club's membership policy on Twitter with a nod to his wife, Callista, who plays golf:

I think callista would be a great member #Augusta - maybe she would let me come and play

Earlier today, White House spokesman Jay Carney said President Obama also believes women should be allowed to become members of Augusta.

The club's all-male policy has drawn controversy over the years, and is in the spotlight today because Virginia Rometty is chief executive of IBM, a Masters sponsor.

Traditionally, the CEOs of IBM, Exxon and AT&T have been invited to become Augusta members because of the companies' sponsorship, but until now all of those corporate chiefs have been men.

The opening round of The Masters began today. USA TODAY's Tom Weir has been live blogging in Game On!

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About Catalina Camia

Catalina Camia leads the OnPolitics online community and has been at USA TODAY since 2005. She has been a reporter or editor covering politics and Congress for two decades, including stints at The Dallas Morning News and Congressional Quarterly. Follow her at @USATOnPolitics.